Asked if he had known the gold he was helping to sell had come from the golden toilet, Mr Doe said: “Not at any stage.”

Jurors heard the toilet was most likely broken up and has never been recovered.

Entitled America, the 18-carat gold toilet was part of an exhibition by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.

Mr Doe, previously known as Frederick Sines, 36, from Windsor, 41-year-old Mr Guccuk, from west London, and Mr Jones, 39, from Oxford, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges they face.

Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, has previously pleaded guilty to burglary.

The trial continues.